Background: IFOAM Organic World Congress 2008
During the last 16° IFOAM World Congress, held in Modena (Italy) in June 2008, ICEA and the EQUOBIO network organized a workshop dedicated to the relations between Organic Agriculture (OA) and International Cooperation for Development.
The workshop initiated a discussion among different stakeholders, about the possible synergies and positive effects arising from the inclusion of organic principles and tools into international cooperation projects. The outcomes of that first workshop were positive, as we have been able to collect some best practices (a selection of projects has been shown in a poster exhibition in one of the main squares of Modena and later all around Italy) showing that OA can play a substantial role in cooperation projects, enhancing effectiveness and sustainability.  Some major issues and tracks for future interventions were identified.  Starting from those encouraging results, ICEA and the EQUOBIO network believe that it is time to follow up, organizing a second workshop at the IFOAM World Congress in Korea.
 
Next step: IFOAM World Congress 2011 in Korea
ICEA in collaboration with the EQUOBIO network (www.equobio.info) and FECD (www.fecd.org.ec) launch a call for participation for the following activities:
·    A workshop to be held during the 17° IFOAM World Congress.
·    A selection of best practices to be collected in a on-line database
·    A poster exhibition to be shown at the Congress.
 
Objectives:
Objectives of the workshop:
The workshop “Organic Agriculture for Development: What Works” will focus on some specific aspects of OA in development projects (listed below) and will provide a space for exchanging experiences and ideas among the project stakeholders.
The goal is to identify a common ground to start drafting guidelines for future projects focused on organic agriculture and to establish an international working group/network for the promotion and development of international cooperation projects based on OA.
 
The project selection:
The selection committee formed by IFOAM, IFOAM EU, IFAD, FAO, ICEA, COSA/SCAN, Grolink, FECD, HIVOS, ERVET, FLO, EQUOBIO network has selected about 30 projects that could be used as examples of best practices that could provide inputs and ideas for the future.

The projects cover one or more of the following topics:
1.      Organic and Fair Trade Certification
How is the synergy between organic and fair trade movements part of the project? Which strategies and practical tools are implemented in the project? Which are the main benefits for the project stakeholders?
2.      Access to Markets and Food Security
How does the project support the development of local, regional and/or international markets? Which forms of commercialization are implemented (e.g. public catering; etc.)? What is the role of producer and consumer networks? Are food security and food sovereignty enhanced by the project?
3.      Biodiversity and Climate Change
Does the project link organic production systems with protecting biodiversity and/or enhancing climate change mitigation and adaptation? Which practical tools have been developed?
4.      Income generation and diversification
Does the project include income diversification through services such as eco-tourism, direct sales and environmental/food education?
5.      Knowledge sharing, awareness and cooperation
Does the project foster cooperation between organic and fair trade stakeholders’ networks in the same region (South – South) and internationally? Which are the best ways to share experiences, know-how and best practices?
6.      Policy
Does the project support local and regional governments’ knowledge and capacity building, in order to develop appropriate legal frameworks and support policies for organic and fair trade production systems? Which are the main results reached by the project?

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Download Workshop Program “Organic Agriculture for Development: What works”
11:30 to 18:00 Sep. 29th 2011

Contacts:
Websites: www.icea.info/IFOAM2011
Email:  cooperazione@icea.info
Address: ICEA
Via Nazario Sauro, 2 – Bologna – Italy
Tel. +39.051.272986